Tick Talk: How to Enjoy the Outdoors While Staying Tick Aware

by Outdoor Element

Let’s start with some science. Ticks don't have noses, but they can detect your breath, body heat, and even some skin odors using a specialized sensory structure organ located on their front legs.

Tick Haller’s Organ. Picture by Tanya Josek

Many ask, can ticks "smell" you? In a way, yes. Ticks don't smell like humans do; however, they have this specialized sensory organ called a Haller's Organ that gives them some jedi/spidey senses on their front legs.

The Haller's organ is one reason ticks are such effective parasites. They are tiny pit-and-capsule structures on the tick's front legs containing numerous sensory receptors. When you see a tick "waving" its front legs in the air, it's not trying to give you a high five or grab something. It's actively sampling its environment using its Haller's organs.

Researchers have found that Haller's organ can detect:

• Carbon dioxide (CO₂) from your breath 
  
• Body heat (infrared radiation) 
  
• Humidity and moisture 
  
• Air currents 
  
• Certain chemicals and odors produced by skin, sweat, and animals 
  

Think of it as a combination of a nose, motion detector, weather station, and heat sensor all packed into a tiny organ. To some degree, ticks can tell the difference between animal species. Ticks can distinguish between different chemical signatures emitted by various hosts.

They know how to be in the right spot for an ideal host.

Because of this, ticks are often concentrated along trails, especially when tall grass lines them. Sitting in tall grass increases your exposure to ticks.

Dogs frequently pick up ticks before humans.

Ticks can seem to appear out of nowhere even when you never touched a tree branch. That’s because They're not dropping onto you.

They're waiting in strategic locations and using those Haller's organs to recognize when a warm, breathing host is approaching. …so hold your breath, don’t sweat, and don’t radiate any heat when you hike 😊. 

We know the outdoors is full of incredible experiences like campfires with family, miles of winding trails, mornings in camp, and the simple joy of unplugging. While most outdoor adventures go exactly as planned (wink wink), there are a few hazards worth understanding before you head out. One of those is ticks.

The good news?

You don't need to fear ticks to enjoy the outdoors.

Like many outdoor challenges, a little knowledge and preparation go a long way.

Whether you're a camper, hiker, bushcrafter, hunter, or simply someone who enjoys spending time outside with family, understanding how to prevent tick bites and respond if you find one can help you continue exploring with confidence.

Why Tick Awareness Matters

Ticks have become increasingly common across many parts of North America. These tiny arachnids can carry diseases such as Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, and several other illnesses.

Fortunately, most tick bites do not result in disease, and many risks can be significantly reduced through prevention, early detection, and proper removal.

The key isn't avoiding the outdoors. The key is being prepared for what you may encounter while you're there.

As the team at LymeAlert notes: "Test the tick. Act early."

We had the opportunity to meet the founders of LymeAlert and understand their cutting-edge technology a little better.

LymeAlert tests the tick itself to determine whether it carries Borrelia burgdorferi, the bacterium that causes Lyme disease. They have a simple approach:  Find a tick → Test the tick → Get information faster. Instead of waiting days for a mail-in lab result, LymeAlert is designed to provide results in about 15 minutes at home. …and if you like, you get to watch the tick get crushed and pulverized in the process. You can also choose to look away.

Learn more about their work at:
https://lymealert.com/
 

Prevention Starts Before You Leave Home

The best way to deal with ticks is to avoid getting bitten in the first place.
According to outdoor experts and health organizations, several simple practices can dramatically reduce your exposure:

Wear Appropriate Clothing

When hiking or traveling through brushy areas:

• Wear long pants when practical 
  
• Wear long sleeves 
  
• Tuck pants into socks in high-risk areas (your kids will make fun of you when you do this, but it will leave them with a lasting safety memory for them)
  
• Choose light-colored clothing when possible to make ticks easier to spot 
  

Stay on Established Trails

Ticks often wait on tall grass, shrubs, and low-hanging vegetation for animals or people to brush past.

Whenever possible:

• Stay in the center of trails 
  
• Avoid walking through tall grass 
  
• Minimize contact with dense brush 
  

Use Tick Repellents

Many outdoor professionals recommend:

• Permethrin-treated clothing and gear 
  
• EPA-approved repellents such as picaridin or DEET on exposed skin 
  

These tools can help create an additional layer of protection during outdoor activities.

Tick Checks Should Become Part of Every Adventure

Just like checking your gear before leaving camp, checking for ticks should become part of your outdoor routine.

The outdoor apparel company, KÜHL, emphasizes the importance of performing a thorough tick check after spending time outdoors.

Read their article here:

https://www.kuhl.com/borninthemountains/tips-and-ticks-tick-bites-safety-and-prevention-for-humans-and-dogs

Pay special attention to:

• Hair and scalp 
  
• Behind the ears 
  
• Armpits 
  
• Waistbands 
  
• Behind the knees 
  
• Groin area 
  

If you're camping with children, make tick checks part of the end-of-day routine.

And don't forget your four-legged adventure partners. Dogs can carry ticks into tents, vehicles, and homes.

How to Properly Remove a Tick

Finding a tick can be alarming, but removing it correctly is important.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends:

• Use fine-tipped tweezers. 
  
• Grasp the tick as close to the skin as possible. 
  
• Pull straight upward using steady pressure. 
  
• Avoid twisting or jerking. 
  
• Clean the bite area with soap and water or rubbing alcohol. 
  

Avoid common myths such as:

• Burning the tick 
  
• Applying petroleum jelly 
  
• Using nail polish 
  

I think I tried all three of these incorrect methods growing up; however, they may actually increase risk and make removal more difficult. 

Tick Varieties and Diseases They Carry

Ticks come in all sorts of colors and sizes. They vary based on the environment. Within the US alone, there are an estimated 90 species of ticks. Most you'll never encounter, but it is good to be familiar with what they look like where you're located.

Our good friends at Off Grid Magazine put together an incredible guide called "How to Avoid Ticks and the Diseases They Carry: A Beginner's Guide to Understanding and Mitigating the Threat of these Disease-Carrying Parasites."

You can give it a read here: 

https://www.offgridweb.com/preparation/how-to-avoid-ticks-and-the-diseases-they-carry/

Know the Signs of Lyme Disease

Lyme disease is one of the most widely recognized tick-borne illnesses.

Symptoms may include:

• Fatigue 
  
• Fever 
  
• Headache 
  
• Muscle aches 
  
• Joint pain 
  
• A characteristic "bull's-eye" rash 
  

Symptoms can vary from person to person, and not everyone develops the rash.
If you experience symptoms after a tick bite, contact a healthcare professional promptly.

Early treatment is often highly effective.

New Outdoor Innovation: Meet LymeAlert

One of the highlights from this year's Outside Festival Industry Days in Denver was meeting the founders of LymeAlert.

Not only did LymeAlert win the pitch competition during Industry Days, but they are also participants in REI's Path Ahead Ventures program—an initiative that supports innovative outdoor companies working to make the outdoor industry more accessible, sustainable, and impactful.

Learn more about REI's Path Ahead Ventures program:

https://www.rei.com/action/path-ahead

LymeAlert has developed an innovative approach to helping outdoor enthusiasts respond more quickly when they discover a tick. Their mission is simple: provide people with better information so they can make informed decisions after a tick bite.

For anyone who spends time outdoors with family, pets, or friends, innovations like this are encouraging examples of how the outdoor industry continues to evolve and support safer adventures.

I mentioned this product earlier. It is worth checking out. https://lymealert.com/

Preparedness Is More Than Gear

In a preparedness article for American Outdoor Guide, author Jim Cobb reminds readers that preparedness is ultimately about awareness and planning, and suggests to carry a TickKey with you at all times.

Read the full article here :
https://www.americanoutdoor.guide/features/preparedness-checklist-by-jim-cobb/

The same principle applies to tick awareness.

You don't need specialized equipment.

You don't need to avoid the outdoors.

You simply need a few good habits:

• Stay aware of your surroundings 
  
• Use preventative measures 
  
• Perform tick checks 
  
• Remove ticks properly
• Know what symptoms to watch for 

Explore With Confidence

At Outdoor Element, we believe the outdoors is for everyone—from first-time campers to seasoned bushcrafters.

Ticks are simply one more thing to understand as part of responsible outdoor adventure.

Just as we carry a fire starter, whistle, navigation tools, or first aid supplies, tick awareness belongs in our outdoor knowledge base.

A few minutes of prevention and awareness can help ensure your next adventure is remembered for the right reasons.

Get outside. Enjoy the trail. Gather around the campfire. Teach your kids outdoor skills.

And as always—

Explore with Confidence.

 

Bonus info:

Some other misconceptions, fun facts about ticks and maybe me spreading some rumors about ticks 😊

 

No need to worry about ticks raining from trees: 

Most tick species in North America do not climb high into trees and drop onto people.

That's one of the biggest misconceptions.

Instead, ticks use a behavior called questing:

They climb onto grass, brush, weeds, and low vegetation. 

They extend their front legs. 

They wait for a host to brush past. 

They grab onto clothing, fur, or skin and climb upward. 

Many ticks are found less than 3 feet off the ground, often much lower. So you're much more likely to pick up a tick while walking through tall grass, sitting on a log, kneeling to gather firewood, or brushing against shrubs than from something falling out of a tree. 

Do ticks prefer animals over humans?

Usually, yes.

Many tick species evolved primarily to feed on deer, mice, rabbits, squirrels, birds, dogs, and other mammals. Humans are often "incidental" hosts—we simply happen to walk through the same environment. In addition and contrary to popular belief, you can't get Lyme disease from eating venison. The primary risk comes from infected ticks themselves—not from consuming properly handled deer meat. That said, some species, like the blacklegged tick (deer tick), readily feed on humans if given the opportunity. Please wear some gloves when field dressing any animal and then perform a good tick check once you are done.

Do ticks prefer certain blood types?

Interestingly, there is some evidence they might.

One study found ticks were attracted more often to Type A blood than:

• Type O 
  
• Type B 
  
• Type AB 
  

However:

The study was relatively small. 

Researchers don't fully understand why. 

More research is needed. 

For practical purposes, your behavior and environment matter far more than your blood type.

What attracts ticks the most?

The biggest factors are:

✅ Tall grass and brush

✅ Areas with deer populations

✅ Leaf litter

✅ Warm body temperature

✅ Carbon dioxide from breathing

✅ Sweat and skin odors

Ticks don't jump, fly, or typically drop from trees. Most simply wait on grass or brush and grab onto a passing host.

You want to take a deeper dive into the Tick Talk? We got you! 

Here are some additional Resources

LymeAlert
https://lymealert.com/

Off Grid Magazine: How to Avoid Ticks and the Diseases They Carry
https://www.offgridweb.com/preparation/how-to-avoid-ticks-and-the-diseases-they-carry/

KÜHL: Tick Bites, Safety, and Prevention for Humans and Dogs
https://www.kuhl.com/borninthemountains/tips-and-ticks-tick-bites-safety-and-prevention-for-humans-and-dogs

American Outdoor Guide: Preparedness Checklist
https://www.americanoutdoor.guide/features/preparedness-checklist-by-jim-cobb/

REI Path Ahead Ventures
https://www.rei.com/action/path-ahead

Please note: The experts and products mentioned in this guide are not part of any affiliate program. We share them because we know and trust their expertise and craftsmanship. We love their products and stand by their knowledge as true experts in the field.